Simona Halep produced one of her best performances of the season to dismantle Paula Badosa on Monday at Wimbledon, and the Romanian is delighted to return to form after some struggles in the last few years.
The 2019 Wimbledon champion hired Patrick Mouratoglou in April to try and improve after a rocky start to 2022. Initially, results and performances disappointed, including a second-round defeat at the French Open.
There were some hopeful signs at the grass-court tournaments she played before Wimbledon. She reached the semifinals at the Birmingham Classic and the Bad Homburg Open. However, she was still below the level needed to challenge at Wimbledon.
Halep has surprised some with her performances at SW19 so far. She did not drop a set in her opening four matches and only lost three games in her dominant 6-1, 6-2 triumph against Badosa.
The 30-year-old expressed her delight after reaching the quarterfinal, saying it meant a lot after the difficulties she has been through with injuries and her confidence on the court.
It means a lot that I'm back in a quarterfinals after I struggled so much with injuries and self-confidence. I'm really happy with the way I'm playing. I'm really confident. It's a pleasure to be on court.
Halep is a great champion, but even the best players can lose confidence during challenging moments. After her injuries, the Romanian lost her rhythm for a considerable period, but that seems to have returned.
The two-time Grand Slam champion also said she was more nervous the day before her match against Badosa. However, when she stepped out onto Centre Court, her nerves lessened, and she appreciated a special moment.
Actually, I was more nervous yesterday than today. It's very special to be back I missed a lot, to play in Wimbledon. Three years was a lot ... It's always a pleasure to come back and to have the chance to play on Centre Court."
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